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This book is selling incredibly well by word of mouth, but despite a four month publicity campaign, received NO national coverage: https://beltpublishing.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-last-children-of-mill-creek
a gorgeously written memoir by a 70 year old Black woman about living in a segregated neighborhood that was razed for urban renewal seemed, we thought, a book someone might want to cover nationally. Especially with all the "we need more books like this" gestures by those outlets.
Especially when we promoted it during that "publishing has a problem!" "publishing needs more black and brown authors!" American Dirt moment.
so maybe instead of now yelling "big publishing stop publishing racist books!" critics and reviewers could start **covering** books by small publishes publishing books about racism by Black authors.
Meanwhile, I'm done hitting my head against the wall. This book, like other @belt_publishing titles we have published, is selling very well by word of mouth despite lack of coverage. I am done putting our resources into trying to chase you guys.
And BLESS YOU ST LOUIS MEDIA who have done a series of thoughtful, in-depth pieces about @viviangibson72 and her extraordinary book.
St. Louis readers and media put the book on the bestseller's list for indie bookstores in that city, and during a pandemic.
If you have ever tweeted a picture of your overflowing pile of galleys: we put a ton of money and labor into sending you this book.
I'm angry for many reasons of course, today, and I'm going to express it, and do so while staying in my lane. I know this is not the most important thing in your feed right now.
Of course, pub dates don't mean shit. Go ahead! Review it now! We have all the publicity information you would like. @viviangibson72 is an extraordinary interview. We will send you a free copy.
Soon we will start promoting this title, which publishes in September. I have no confidence we will hear back from 99% of the people on our media list. https://beltpublishing.com/collections/pre-order/products/black-in-the-middle
